Montara Therapeutics to Develop Novel Treatments Using the BrainOnly™ Platform with Grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation

The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) has awarded a $3.3 million grant to Montara Therapeutics to help develop a new, brain-targeted treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD). This research will advance Montara’s innovative Brainonly platform — designed to treat the brain 🧠 while reducing side effects in other parts of the body. 🧬 Targeting a Key Genetic Link to Parkinson’s Montara’s focus is a potential drug that blocks LRRK2, a protein connected to one of the most common genetic causes of Parkinson’s. Mutations in the LRRK2 gene can lead to overactivity of the enzyme, contributing to nerve cell damage seen in PD. While blocking LRRK2 shows promise as a treatment strategy, no such therapies are available yet — largely due to side effects in organs like the lungs and kidneys 🫁🧽. 🛡️ How the Brainonly Platform Works Montara’s Brainonly platform uses a smart two-drug system: 💊 Drug One enters the brain to fight the disease. 🚫 Drug Two stays outside the brain to prevent side effects in the rest of the body. This approach is designed to be safer, more effective, and better tolerated by people living with Parkinson’s — focusing treatment where it’s needed most. Dr. Nicholas T. Hertz, Montara’s CEO, explained: “MJFF’s expertise makes them a fantastic partner in our mission to deliver targeted therapies that spare the rest of the body.” 🤝 Teaming Up to Advance Parkinson’s Research Montara is also joining MJFF’s LITE program — a collaborative initiative to develop new LRRK2 therapies and identify helpful biomarkers 🧪 for Parkinson’s. Dr. Dario Alessi, a lead LITE investigator, shared: “We’re excited to explore how Montara’s platform could unlock the full potential of LRRK2-targeted treatments — with fewer side effects.” 🧪 Backed by a Proven Team The Montara team previously founded Mitokinin, a company acquired by Abbvie in 2023. Mitokinin worked on activating PINK1, another brain-protective enzyme linked to Parkinson’s 🧬. Dr. Miratul Muqit, a Parkinson’s researcher and Montara board member, praised the team: “They’ve already helped advance a potentially disease-modifying therapy — and are well-positioned to do it again.” 🌟 Why This Matters for the Parkinson’s Community This project is part of a growing effort to develop more targeted, safer treatments for Parkinson’s. While clinical use is still some time away, Montara’s research offers hopeful progress in the search for better therapies — ones that treat the brain without adding to the burden on the rest of the body.